Bernards mosque public hearing continues as vote nears

BERNARDS — In April, after nearly two years of expert testimony on both sides, the Islamic Society of Basking Ridge, which has proposed to build a mosque on the site of a house at 124 Church Street completed its testimony, allowing attorney Rob Simon, hired by opposition group Bernards Township Citizens for Responsible Development, to present his case.

A man prays during noon-time prayers at the Islamic Cultural Center in Newark.Aristide Economopoulos/Star-Ledger

At the June 25 meeting of the Bernards Township Planning Board, a member of the public had a chance to question Ali Chaudry, president of the Islamic Society of Basking Ridge and project engineer Adnan Khan, according to a report in the Bernardsville News.

The planning board will meet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday to allow continued public questioning of Peter Steck, a Maplewood planner hired by the opposition group, followed by a planned recall of Khan to testify on changes to the traffic circulation plan, the report said. Another hearing set for 7:30 p.m. on July 24 will allow public comments, attorney summations, a board deliberation and possible vote, the report said.